Pious Women

Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was initially married to Maalik bin Nadhr, and it was from this union that Anas bin Maalik (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was born. They were from the Ansaar and thus resided in Madeenah Munawwarah.

When Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) heard of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and his message of Islam, her husband was away from home. Nevertheless, she immediately accepted Islam. When Maalik, her husband, returned home and realized that she had become a Muslim, he asked her, “Have you become a renegade?” Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) replied, “I am not a renegade. Rather, I have brought imaan in Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).”

While many of us may have heard of Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), the Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) who was renowned for the service he rendered to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), there are perhaps not many of us who are aware of his mother, Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha), and the sterling example she set for the women of the Ummah.

Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was one of the few, fortunate women whom Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would visit and whose homes he would bless with his noble presence. In this regard, Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) has mentioned, “Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would not enter the home of any woman, besides the homes of his respected wives (radhiyallahu ‘anhunna), except the home of Ummu Sulaim (radhiyallahu ‘anha). When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was asked regarding this, he said, ‘I feel sympathy for her as her brother was killed with me (i.e. for the cause of Islam)’.” (Saheeh Muslim #2455)

Qaadhi Shuraih (rahimahullah) was the chief judge of Kufah, appointed by none other than ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).

Imaam Sha’bi (rahimahullah) narrates the following regarding him:

One day, Qaadhi Shuraih (rahimahullah) addressed us saying, “You should marry a woman from the tribe of Banu Tameem, as they are indeed the women (i.e. they have unparalleled qualities).” Hearing this high praise, we asked him, “Why do you say that, O Abu Umayyah?” In reply, Qaadhi Shuraih (rahimahullah) then recounted his personal experience as follows:

Ummu Kulthoom bintu ‘Uqbah bin Abi Mu‘ait (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was a Sahaabiyah who brought imaan, in Makkah Mukarramah, during the initial days of Islam. The following is her personal account of how she performed Hijrah to Madeenah Munawwarah. She recounts:

I would leave Makkah Mukarramah and go to an area on its outskirts, known as Tan‘eem, in which I had some family. Once there, I would remain with these relatives, spending three or four days with them. I would thereafter return to my family in Makkah Mukarramah who did not mind the time that I would spend in the outskirts.

Akbar was the Moghul king of India from the year 963 A.H. until his demise in 1014 A.H. Although in the year 991 A.H. he was responsible for inventing and enforcing a new religion, prior to that he was religiously inclined.

On one occasion, all the dignitaries, eminent personalities and noble people had come to Akbar to pay their respects to him. Among these people was an ‘Aalim named Moulana ‘Abdun Nabi. When he noticed that Akbar was wearing clothing of a saffron colour, he immediately reprimanded Akbar and instructed him to change his clothing, as saffron coloured clothing is impermissible for males to wear. However, when reprimanding Akbar, he became so spirited that he even struck the clothing of Akbar with the tip of his staff.